Sewing-machine



(No Model.)

In-M55555.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. WOODWARD.

SEWING MAOHINE.

Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

B. WOODWARD.

SEWING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 22,1890

INVENTEJ (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. E. WOODWARD.

SEWING MACHINE.

No. 426,159. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

I 1 ZIHM 1 f-l'glu- /WNEEEEE. INVENTEIR- WW%.M F a 5 5 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

E. WOODWARD.

SEWING MACHINE.

No. 426,159. Patented Apr. 22. 1890.

WITNEEEEE.

" 1v rr n ATENT ()FFICE.

SEWING-'MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,159, dated April. 22, 1890.

Application filed May 18, 1889. Serial No. 811,308. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS Woonwann, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The object of my invention is to combine in a sewing'machine devices by which the length of stitch may be automatically changed in alternation-that is, a long stitch may follow a short one, or vice versa; also, to combine with a sewing-machine a device by which alternating stitches of different lengths may be varied in their relative lengths to any desired extent, or all of the stitches may be of the same length, as in the ordinary machines. This object I attain by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine, a part of the casing being represented as broken out, so as to show the moving parts more clearly. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, a part of the faceplate being broken out. Fig. 4, is a vertical cross-section taken on line are of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan showing apart of the feed device; Fig. 6, cross vertical sectional View showing parts of the feed device and presser-foot. Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing parts of the needle-bar, presserfoot, and shuttle. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the cam-plates and their adjuncts, the same being shown in side elevation, Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is an elevation of one of the feed-can1s that is, the rear one of Figs. 1 and 2and some of the parts which are operated by it. Fig. 10 is an elevation of one of the cams-that is, the middle cam of Figs. 1 and 2-and some of the parts which are operated by it. Fig. 11 is an elevation showing the presserfoot rod and upper feed-clamp rod and connected devices. Fig. 12 is a sectional plan showing most of the parts shown in elevation in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a detail in horizontal section. 1% is a diagram showing a variety of stitching.

In Figs. 1 and 2, A A A represent the frame and easing of the machine, of which E is the main shaft and B", the driving-pulley. The needle B is affixcd to the needle-bar B and is driven by means of the crank-disk B 011 the main shaft 13, the crank-pin of which works in a cross-head B", attached to the needle-bar The shuttle of this machine and its connected devices are very similar to those of other machines, and need not be particularly described. The shuttle-carrier 0, Figs. 1 and 2, is attached, as shown, to the shaft G which is made to make part rotations back and forth by means of the lever-arm C link C, (see Fig. 4,) and lever C said lever C" being pivoted at C to the frame of the machine, Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The upper arm C of the lever C has upon it apin,which works in a cam-groove made in the rear face of the gear-wheel 0. As the cam-wheel G rotates but once while the main shaft B (driving the needle) rotates twice, it is necessary to so form its cam-groove that the shuttle shall perform its full motions twice at each one rotation of the cam-wheel C.

My fabric holding and feed device consists, first, of the'ordinary presser-foot- L and throatplate T, Figs. 3 and 7, and, second, of two feeding-clamps F F and K, Figs. 8 and 6. Of these the clamp F F presses the fabric from the under side and the clamp K from the upper side. Thus the two clamps F F and K grasp and hold the fabric between them and feed it along the required distance, but do not release it until the resser-foot L comes down onto itand, in connection with the throatplate T, holds it. Then the clamps F F* and K loosen their grasp and move back to a position for again grasping the fabric ready to move it for the next stitch. The lower feedclamp consists of the sliding block F and the pin F (see Figs. 5 and 6,) so that the fabric is clamped between the pin F and the upper feedclanip K By this device the fabric may be turned very readily when the presserfoot L is raised from it.

The object of having a single pin or stud F for the lower feed is that by having but one point of pressure between the upper and lower feed-clamps the fabric being operated upon may, while still clamped by the upper and lower feed-clamps, be turned so that the direction of the line of stitches can be abruptly changed without stopping the machine, this characteristic being of great advantage when the machine is used for basting.

I will now describe the mechanism for operating the two feed-clamps F F and K. The shaft 0 is driven by the wheel 0, Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10. On the shaft C, I have two facecams D and II. The cam D has a cam-groove D, in which a pin on the end of the lever D Works, causing the said lever D to swing on its pivot D Fig.4. The fulcrum D is affixed to a block D which slides in a groove D ,made in the lower end of the lever D Said fulcrum is also connected to a sliding bracket D, said bracket D being adapted to be moved up and down by the finger-pin D The lower end of the lever D has attached to it a boss D, Figs. 1 and 2, in which a pin D Fig. 2, is made fast. Upon this pin D a link D is hung, the upper end of said link D being hung onto a short shaft or journal D, attached to the frame of the machine by cross-bars A A. It will be observed if the fulcrum D, Fig. 4, be moved down (by the sliding bracket D) until itis opposite the pin D Figs. 2, 9, and 10, then the lever D will simply swing about the fulcrum D and give no back-and-forth motion to the pin D and hence the link D will remain stationary; but if the fulcrum D is moved upward then the lower end of the lever D oscillates to correspond with the oscillations of its upper end, caused by the cam D. The pin has a leVerH hung upon it, (see Figs. 1 9, and 10,)

the upper end H of which is connected by a link H to a lever H Fig. 9, hung on the journal D, so that the lever H must partake of the movement of the lever I1 as well as of the cam-lever D but the lever H is controlled in its movements by the second cam-lever H which has a sliding fulcrunrextending from the bracket H, Fig. 1, said bracket H being adjustable up and down by the finger-pin H The second cam-lever H is operated by the cam H, and is in its construction and formation like the first cam-lever D although its movement is clifferent, as it is operated by the cam-groove H. (See dotted lines in Fig. 9.) As the two camlevers D and H are both connected (indirectly) to the lever H and both have adj ustable fulcrums, it is evident that the said lever H can be made to stand still when the other parts of the machine are in motion, (by so adjusting the fulcrums that their lower ends are simply swinging points',) and also that one of them may be made inoperative so far as the lever H is concerned and the other operative, or they may alternately cause the lever H to move, each giving it an equal motion, or they may be so set that one of them shall give the lever 11 a comparatively slight movement, while the other shall give it a greater movement.

The lever 11 controls the movement of the feeding-clamps F F and K, already referred to, by means of the following-described mechanisms:

H Fig. 4, is a link connecting the lever H to the rocker-arm ll -on the shaft H F, Fig. 3, is an arm extending from the rocker-shaft H to a link F, which connects it to the lower feeding-clamp F F.

K, Fig. 4, is a slotted arm, also extending from the rocker-shaft H to which it is attached by means of a clamping-screw K, an adjusting-slot K anda link K, which is attached at its upper end to an arm K on the rocker-shaft K Figs. 3 and 4. The rockershaft K has upon it an arm K, Fig. 8, which is connected by a link K to the sliding block K. Affixed to the sliding block K is the post K of the upper feed-clamp K.

The sliding block K, 3, is guided in its motion by the rod 70, affixed in the headblock K". The head-block K" is attached to the vertical rod K which is arranged to slide up and down. The spring K acts on the block K to keep the rod K down-that is, to cause the upper feed-clamp K to bear upon the work when it is desired to have it hold the work in place.

As both of the feeding-clamps F F and K are operated by the same rocker-shaft II, it is evident that the two must move simultaneously; but it is not necessary that the two shall have the same amount of motion, for by changing the. working length of the arm F or of the arm K a different amount of motion may be given. to its respective feeding-clamps. In the drawings, Fig. 4, I have shown one K of the arms provided with a slot K so that its working length may be varied for the purpose of giving more or less throw to the feeding-clamp K. The object of having an unequal movement to the feedingclamps is to cause (when desired) one of the layers of fabric to be gathered at the same time that it is sewed or basted.

The presser-foot L, Figs. 3 and 7, is attached to a rod L by a clamp L. Said rod L has a spring L, which, acting on the block L, attached to the presser-foot rod L tends to keep the presser-foot L down to its working position.

The presser-foot L and the upper feedclamp K are caused to be lifted from the work by the following-described device, (see Figs. 11, 12, and 132) V B is a cam-block attached to the needlebar B and is provided with a cam-groove B, which, as the needledoar B moves up and down, gives motion to the arm M on the rocker-shaft A, which in turn gives motion to the forked arm 3 also attached to the rockershaft A. The fork M of the arm M embraces a pin M on an arm M, which causes the rocker-shaft A to make part rotations.

M is a tumbler attached to the rocker shaft A and is made to oscillate with it.

feed-clamp K IZC The

For convenience in lifting (manually) the presser-foot L and the feed-clamp K when it is desired to place a fabric in the machine or to remove it,I have a cam ihFigs. 1, 2, and 3, which swings on a pivot-screw N and may be turned by its handle N This cam N is immediately under the projection-arm L (Sec Figs. 11 and 13.) The arm L extends into the block L If, as shown in Fig. 13, and is connected with a guiding-stem L", which fits loosely in the head-block L" L, so that the head-block L" LU, together with the presserfoot rod If, may be raised up without moving the arm L L That part of the arm L L that is marked L extends back and under the projection K from the block K so that when the arm If L has been moved high enough it will come in contact with the projection K (see Figs. 11 and 13,) and through it lift the upper feed-clamp K. The first movement of the cam N will cause the presser-foot L to rise up, but will not affect the upper feedclamp K for the reason that the part L of the arm L L is still below the projection K, as shown in Fig. 13.

I claim-- 1. In a sewing-machine, the combination of the levers D 11?, having fulcrums independently adjustable, and operating mechanism connecting said levers to the lever II, and lever H, with mechanism adapted to transmit motion from said lever 11 to the upper and lower feeding-clamps, and said upper and lower feeding-clamps, the whole adapted to give a long and short feed movement in alternation, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a sewingqnaehine, an upper and lower feeding-clamp, the main shaft, the countershaft having two feed-working cams, levers D H operated by said cams, having adj ustable fnlcrums, a lever H connected to and operated by the said levers D H and meehanism for transmitting-motion from said levers II to the said upper and lower feedingclamps, all adapted to vary the length of each alternatestitch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a sewing-machine, the combination of an upper feeding-clamp and a mechanism for giving said feeding-clamp a feed motion with a lower feeding-clamp and a mechanism for giving it a feeding mot-ion, said upper and lower feeding mechanisms being independent of each other and adapted to give to the upper andlower feeds motions variable in extent relatively to each other, and the cam-levers D H having adjustable fulcrums attached to the sliding brackets D II, whereby feed motions are obtained variable in relation to alternate stitches, as described,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a sewing-machine, the combination of the needle-bar, cam-block B attached to the needle-bar and having the groove B arm M, rocker-shaft A, and arm M, and presser-foot rod L having apresser-foot L and block L, with the tumbler M and upper feed-clamp rod K having a feed-clamp K and lifting-block K substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this Ilth day of May, A. D. 1889.

ERASTUS WOOD WARD. Witnesses:

FRANK G. PARKER, MATTHEW M. BLUNT. 

